Need charter, not Prop. 1

Voters have a chance on this ballot to shape the future of our Spokane County government. County Proposition 1 proposes to add two new county commissioners. Adding two county commissioners sounds good to most of us because it seems like we’d get better representation. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

County Prop. 1 has some major problems. First, it will add two commissioners, but they will be elected countywide not by districts, which could give us better representation. Second, the current county commissioners, including those running for office in 2016, get to draw the district lines and decide whom is and isn’t in their district. This isn’t a fair process, and gives unfair advantage to the incumbents.

We do have an alternative. The alternative is a county charter used by all large counties in Washington, except Spokane, to increase the number of commissioners; providing for election by district; and establishing a bipartisan committee to draw district lines fairly.

Vote no on county Prop. 1 It doesn’t give us better representation. It gives the choice of districting solely to the three county commissioners. Instead, tell the commissioners that Spokane County is ready for a charter and for real representation.

Rick Eichstaedt

Spokane